Antipanic-lock-operating mechanism



Aug., 31, 1926. 1,598,116

W. B. BOLLES ANTIPAIIIC LOCK OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 1,- 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 31, 1926.

w. B. -B OLLES ANTI PANIC LOCK OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 1. 1922' 3 Sheets-Shet 2 L] jzvlitoi'r Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,116

W. B. BOLLES ANTIPANIC LOCK OPERATING MECHANISM Filed' July 1, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ILL Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

U lit STATES nane rarest orsice.

W'ILLIAFT B. BOLLES, 0F IYIILWTAUKE'E', WISCONSIN;

ANTIPANIC-LOCIQOEERATING MECHANISM.

Application. filed July 1.,

This invention relates to anti panic lock operating mechanisms and more particularly either to lock operating devices adapted to be applied to the several ordinary types of door locks and latches, or to door bolts which bynature are made to provide ready exit at all times.

The present invention is an improvement over the devices disclosed in Patent No. 1,288,816, granted to me, December 2%, 1918, and Patent No. 1,383,974, granted to me July 5, 1921;.

The main object of this invention is to provide a lock operating mechanism which will operate satisfactorily without excessive wear upon the parts or danger of breakage should the mechanism be inaccurately positioned with reference to the lock in attaching to the door. The lock operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the patents above referred to operates satisfactorily if properly applied to the door. However, it

sometimes happens that through inexperience or otherwise the requirements for proper installation are not satisfied. If the lock ope-rating mechanism is not properly positioned, the lock operating projection may in its motion, experience an interference to its full motion after retracting the latch bolt its full amount. Abuse will occur if the lock operating projection strikes hard against the lock operating member before the hand-grip strikes its abutmen-ts; the impact being taken by the lock operating projection instead of by the abut-ments as intended.

Only a slight change in the position of the lock operating mechanism would put the lock operating mechanism in proper position. The new screw holes, however, would be so close to the old ones that the mechanism would be insecure. It is therefore not feasible to change the position of the lock mechanism to correct a slight inaccuracy in the original mounting. hen it happens that a lock operating mechanism is slightly misplaced in attaching to the door, violent actu ations of the trip lever would tend to weaken the lock operating projection and might eventually cause the projection to break off i or break other parts either actuating or actuated by the lock operating projection, and render the mechanism inoperative,

The present invention overcomes this dif- [iculty by providing a lock actuating mechanism in which the member carrying the lock operating projection is so cushioned 1922. Serial. No. 572,178.

that excessive pressure cannot be exerted upon the projection should it strike the lock member hard and the actuating lever will continue to move until, it strikes its abutment. Other objects will be apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forminga part ofthis specification, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a door with the lock actuating mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side. elevation of'the lock casing de-- tached. Fig. 3 shows partially in elevation and partially in section a door equipped with alock and lock operating mechanism. Fig. 4 shows a section through the casing. F ig. 5 is a perspective view of the slide block. Fig. 6 shows a rear elevation of the lock actuating mechanism showing the invention applied to a double acting lock actuator. Fig. 7 is a view of the lock actuator shown in Fig. 6 partially inside elevation and partially in section. Fig. 8 shows a rear elevation of a modified form of double acting lock actuator. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of a door bolt actuator. Fig. .10 is a sectional view showing another form of door bolt actuator.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows a door 1 which is hinged and mounted between the usual door jambs 2. In 1 the edge of the door there is'mortised a lock such as shown in Fig. 2. This lock is of a well known type which may be purchased on the open market, and no particular description of the lock will be given except to indicate the portion of the lock which cooperates with the lock operating mechanism of my invention, and again at this point I wish to state that in making reference to this particular lock, I do not confine myself to a lock having the operating mechanism herein shown and described, as other locks and latches may be used which will cooperate with the lock opera-ting mechanism in the manner herein described. It is to be understood that the word look as hereinafter used in the specification and claims, in meaning, includes latch or bolt.

Referring to Fig. 2, the locking belt or latch is indicated at 3. This latch has :a rearwardly extending portion A which has a head 5. The "head .is engaged by the reciprocating member -.6 which has a hooked head 7 that engages with the head '5. .At the rear portion the member 6 engageswith an arm 8 of the pivoted lever, this lever being pivoted at 9. The lever also has an arm 10 which cooperates with an operating 11 is released.

Upon the inside of the door 1 there is secured a casing 12. The casing 12 is formed to provide a vertical guideway 13 in which is mounted a slide bar 14. The slide bar 14 has a sliding fit with the walls forming ,the casing space. A portion of the casing space is designated 16 at. the upper end of the guideway 13. A suitable spring connection which may comprise a single spring or a plurality of springs is provided between the slide bar 14 and casing. As shown, a coil spring17 is placed in the casing space 16 and bears against the upper end of the slide bar 14 whereby it serves to nermally hold the slide bar 14 in its lowermost position. The casing has a back plate 18 secured thereto and in contact with the door. The casing has pivot receiving bosses 19 projecting from its outer face. The bosses 19 receive the pivot 20 of an actuating lever 21, by means of which the mechanism is oper ated. A cross bar 22 isfixed to the outer end of the actuating lever 21. An arm 23 corresponding to the lever 21 only of the opposite hand is secured to the opposite end of the cross bar 22- and is pivoted at its inner end to pivot bosses 24 similar to the bosses 19, extending outwardly from a plate 25 which is secured to the hinged side of the door. The levers by interchanging, are adapted to operate doors of either hand. The actuating lever 21 and the arm 23 at the opposite end of the cross bar each have a surface 27 below the pivot 20 which abuts against the face of the casing 12 when the operating lever is swung downwardly. In their uppermost position the operating levers engage the guard face of the casing wall integral with the outer edges of the triangular pivot bosses 19 and 24. The triangular bosses 19 and 24 extend below the pivot 20 to form a guard which prevents fingers being pinched between the surface 27 of the lever or arm and the casing when the lever is swung down. The actuating lever 21 has a head 28 which projects through an opening in the casing 12 and into a slot in the slide bar 14. The slide bar 14 hasa slot extending lengthwise thereofwhich has a' narrow lower portion 29 which receives the head 28 of the actuating lever, a central portion 30 and an upper portion 31. The size of the several cross-sections of the slot may be relatively variable to meet operating conditions. A slide block 32 is mounted in the widened central portion 30 of the slot in the slide bar 14. The slide block 32 may but does not necessarily carry an upwardly projecting pin 33 which fits within a coil spring 34. The coil spring 34 bears upon the top of the block 32 and its upper end is seated against the top end of the slot part 31 in the slide bar 14. The back-plate 18 of the casing has a slot 35 adjacent its lower end which communicates with a recess 36 inthe door 1 beneath the member 11 of the door lock. The slide bar 14 has a stud 37 projecting into the recess 36 and engageable with the operating member 11 of the door look when the slide bar 14 .is moved upwardly. The operating lever in its normal position extends downwardly from the pivot 20 so that the bar 22 is below the longitudinal axis of the pivot 20 carried by the triangular bosses 19. When the lever 21 is swung downwardly, the head 28 thereof engages the slide block 32, forcing the slide block upwardly against the spring 34 and forcing the slide bar 14 upwardly against the spring 17. Asthe slide bar 14 is raised, the stud 37 engages the lock operating member 11 to release the door latch. If the stud 37 reaches its limit of movement before the surface 27 of the actuating lever strikes against the casing 12, the slide block 32 will move upwardly against the action of the spring 34 until the abutment 27 of the actuating lever engages the casmg 12.

The lock actuating mechanism just described may be applied in reverse position -upon the door so that the operating bar moves toward the door above the pivot or the operating bar may be arranged vertically on the door and .the projection on the slide may be arranged to co-act with the latch mechanism at the upper edge of the lock casing or at the rear edge thereof. Where it is desirable to prevent access from the outside of the building the usual door knob will be ommitted and the latch will be operated solely by the operating mechanism on the inside. The antipanic lock operating mechanism is entirely independent of the latch operating cylinder and latch oper ating knobs may be provided upon either or both sides of the door as desired.

To provide means for retaining the door latch in retracted position at all times when desired, bosses 19 and the actuating lever 21 are provided with holes 38 and 38, which ill casing. A coil spring 4:3 is seated in the recess and hears against the upper end or the guide pin 41. In some instances it may be preferable to havethe coil spring:

approximatelyeqiial inoutside' diameter the dimension of the slide bar e0, in chi-chees the springis" kept in alignment by the back plate theiront face wallo'f the casing and lateral interior casing walls which serve also to hold the upper end of the slide member 'in proper alignment as it flinctions; The coil spring is always under initial compression as its upper end bears against the closed upper end of the casing and the lower end of the spring eiigag'es the top end of the slide member 40. The s ringes exerts downward pressure upon the slide bar 40 and serves to return the slide bar to normal position after each actiiation thereof, The lock operating mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is aetua ted hy'a lever such as above described. The slide bar 4 0 may have a slide slot similar to that of the slide bar '14 above described, in which there is a nar row lower portion for receiving the head of the actuating lever, and an enlarged central portion 46, and an upper portion 47,. A slide hlocl; 48 fits in the enlarged central portion 46 or the slot and may but need not necessarily have a projecting horn 49 at its upper end upon which a coil spring 50 is positioned. The coilspring 50 is seated in the narrow upper portion/i7 of the slot and bears against the top of the block 61-8 to normally hold the block 48 against the shoulders at thelower end ofthe central portion 46 of the slot. Theslide block 48 normally holds the actuating lever in an intermediate iosit-ion. hen the actuatingleveris 'depressed, the slide bar 40 is actuated in ex actly the same way as the slide bar 14: above described and actuates the lock releasing member through the stud 5lwhich is similar to studB'Z on the slide 14; For actuating the slide bar d0 when the 'a'ctuatingleyer is lifted, thefcasi'ng 69 has a centrally disposed-horn 52 upon which a lever 53 is centrally pivoted. Qne end of the lever 53 carries a depending pivoted arm 54 which may carry a bearing part such 'asfa roller 55 atits loiverend engaging the wall of the casing 89. The arm 54: has an inwardly pro jeeting foot as wiser were a recess 57 in "the slide 40, The upper end of the recess at its upper side with the slide block 48 A pivoted arm '58 is hung upon the opposite end of the lever 58-. The arm 58 has a is ccss 59 which receives a: laterally projecting stud 60 carried by the slide {bar 40. The arm 58 has an end ltig 61 which is formed to provide a seat for the coil spring 62'. The stud 60 may but need not necessarily have a downwardly extending centering projectioii 63 which engages within the upper end of the coil spring 62. The recess '59 is of suifieient length to permit the necessary movement of the stud 60 therein; The arm 58 has a laterally projecting lug 65 below its connection toleve'r 52. The lug-'65 projects into a notch 66 in the slide bar 40. The lug 65 is normally held in engagement with the shoulder at the loottom of the notch 66 by coil spring 62. The coiled spring 62 reacts between the projection '60 on the slide and the lower end of the link 58 teiidin'g to force the link downwardly and the slide upwardly. This relative movement of the link and slide is, however, prevented by the engagement of the projection 65 of the link 58 against thebottom oi": the notch66 in the slide into which the projection 65 extends. Thus the spring 62 is rendered ineffective to produce any relative movement between the link and slide.- However when the head 45 of the lever is moved down against the projecting foot 56 of the link 54' the link 5 is moved downwardly swinging the lever 53 about its pivot and raising the link 58. Upward pressure is then exerted upon the slide 40 through the compression spring 62, the compression spring 62 being stronger than the return spring 43 the slide will normally move upwardly with the link 58. However if the slide meets excessive resistance to movement due tothe operating lug 51 being impeded in its movement the spring 62 can yield and prevent injury either to the lock actuating mechanism or to the mechanism of the lock.

hen the operating lever is swung; upwardly, the, head 45 thereof is swung downwardly against the inwardly projecting foot 56 of the arm 54 forcing the El1'11'l54c downwardly, causing the lever 53 to swing about its pivot and raise the arm 58. Upward inovement of the arm 58 exertsupward pressure upon the slide bar 40 through the coil spring 62 and moves the slide ha r 40 upwardlyfa'gainstthe action of spring 43; carrying the Stud 51 into engagement with the lock operating iiieinoer 11. If the stud 51 engages an overwhelming resistance he- Cit through the spring 62 slide bar has a guide pin 11 at its up--' per end fitting in a recess 42 and is cushioned by a coil spring 43" seated in the re cess 42 The slide is actuated by the head 45* of an actuating lever and has a lock operating projection 51 Mounted upon a pivot 52 centrally of the casing is a lever 53 having adepending pivoted actuating arm 54c which may carry a hearing roller 55 and has an inwardly projectingfoot 56 engageable with the underside of the head 4-5" of the actuating lever. A link 58 is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the lever 53 and has a recess 59 which receives a stud 6O which is carried by the slide 40. The link 58 has a spring receiving recess 61 in its lower end portion in which is seated a coil spring 62, the upper end of which fits over a projection 63 which may be provided on the underside of the stud '60 and bears against the underside of the stud Above the recess 59 the link 58 has a lug 65 which projects laterally over the head 45* of the operating lever. The spring 62 normally holds the lug 65 in engage ment with the upper face of the head 15 of the operating lever and the foot 56 of the arm 5 1 in engagement with the undertace of the head 15 the operating lever being held in an intermediate position as in the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

When the operating lever is moved in the direction to raise the head 45 the link 58 is lifted and the slide 10 is actuated When the operating lever is moved in a direction to depress the head 45*, the actuating arm 54* is depressed swinging the lever 53 about its pivot and lifting the link 58 which causes the slide 10 to be actuated by the link 58 through the spring 62. In this modification the one spring 62 serves to cushion the slide bar upon movement of the actuating lever in either direction.

In the modification shown in Fig.9 the slides 67 and 68 are mounted in the upper and lower ends of the'casing and carry upper and lower door bolts 69 and-70. A coil spring 71 is interposed between the ends of the slides 67 and 68 and serves to normally hold the door bolts in engaging position.

A lever 72 is pivoted at 73 to a central part of the casing. One end of the lever 72 has a link 74 connected to a lug 75 carried by the slide 67. The other end of the lever 7 2 has a link 76 connected to a lug 77 car ried by the slidefiS. I v

head 78 the slide 68 is slotted to receive a slide block 79 which is normally held against the head 78 of the operating lever by means of a coil spring 80.

As in the modifications above described, the operating lever is mounted to move toward the door to release the look. It might happen that in an emergency the person first to the door would insist upon trying to pull the doorinwardly by means of the lock actuating lever. The force thus exerted would act to force the bolts into their sockets at the top and bottom of the door. If suflicient force were exerted upon the actuating lever, this might cause the bolts to bind. With the spring cushion slide block as shown in Fig. 9, however, direct thrust upon the door bolts is prevented and as soon as the outward pull on the lever is released, the lever is returned to normal position, ready to be actuated in the proper direction to release the bolts.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10 the slide 81 carries a bolt 82 engageable at the top of the door. The actuating lever 83 in this case swings toward the door above its pivot to release the bolt. The lever 83 is pivoted to bosses 84 carried by the casing and has a head 85 projecting into a slot in the slide 81. Slidably mounted in the slide 81 above the head 85 is a block 86 which is held in engagement with the head 85 by means of a coil spring 87. The outward movement of the lever 83 is cushioned by the spring 87 which prevents the bolt 82 from being jammed into its socket by means of the lever 83. The spring 87 also serves to return the lever 83 to normal position when released.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a lock, of a lock actuating mechanism, comprising a movable lock actuating member, an actuating lever for said lock actuating member, and a spring lnterposed between sald actuating lever and lock actuating member.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a lock, of a lock actuating mechanism, comprising a vertically movable slide bar carrying a lock operating member, an actuating lever for said slide bar and a spring interposed between said actuating lever and slide bar; 3. In ardevice of the character described, the combination with a door having a lock, of a lock actuating mechanism, comprising a vertically movable slide bar, having a lock operating projection, a spring resisting movement of said bar in onedirection, an

wel s actuating lever for moving said slide bar in opposition to saidspring, and a springin terposed between saidactuating lever and slide bar.

4. nt. device of the character described, the combination with a door-having a lock, of a1 cl: actuating mechanism, comprising a vertically movable slide b'arhaving a lock operating projection engageab'le with the door lock, a springinterposed between a part of said slide bar and theca'sing", 'a block slidably mounted in said slide bar, a spring interposed beti "een the upper end ofsaid bloc-l; and the slide bar, and an actuating lever having a head engageab'le beneath said slide block andecting to p'resssaid block against its spring and to actuate said slide bar in opposition to its spring.

5. in a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a lock, of a lock actuating mechanism, comprising a movable member operable when shifted in one direction to release the door lock, an actuating lever, and yielding means interposed beta een' said lever and movable. member for shifting said inember to release the lock upon actuation of said lever in either direction.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a'lock, or a lock actuating mechanism, comprising a slide bar carrying a lock actuating meniber'and operable when shifted in one direction to release the door lock, anactuating lever, and connections between said lever and siide bar for shiitingsa'idbariir the direction toielease said loekiupon actuation of said lever in either directien, saidconnections including springs permitting movement of said lever independently of said slide bar.

7. In a lock operating mechanism, a cas inghaving a pivotbossupon the outer face thereof, said boss having spaced outwardly projecting side portions, and an operating lever pivoted to said boss between'the'side portions thereof, the outer end otthe lever adapted to be swung above or below the pivot, said lever having abutments above and, below the pivot engageable with the casing, said boss projecting beyond said pivot and torn'iing a guard for one of said abutments. i

S. in a lock operating mechanism, a casing having a pivot boss upon the outer face thereof, said having spaced outwardly projecting side portions, and an operatlever pivoted to said boss and movable between the said outwardly projecting portions of the boss, said lever having a projecting portion engageable with said boss to limit its movement in one direction and an abutment lying between the side portions of the boss and engageable with the casing to limit its movement in the opposite direct e a ee te d n eyond th P V l fornr'a' guard forsaid'last' mentioned abut+ I Vi e 'i ll.

9, In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to be attached to "a atone lock operating lever pivoted "to the casi g, said lever having at its outer end anattaching portion adapted to receive apush b t d a t ing Po t o h v n was projecting inwa'rdly from the push bar and said 1001;, and means torshitting said slide bar in the samed ire'cti( )1i iipon movement oi the actuating lever in the opposite 'di'- rection, s d means c'oiisisti'ng'oi a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to theca sing and having", meansat one 'end en ag ble with said'actuating lever fand a spring con nection at its opposite end with said slide 1,1. In a device 01: the character described, the combination with a door liavinga "lock, of a" lock actuating mechanism, comprising mevablejloc'le actuating member, a1 '1 ivoted to the "casing, and ,linl'; pivoted to saar ver andfhaving" a spring dennection with said leek factuating "member;" 12.11 11 a device ofthecharactendescribed, the combination with a doorhavinga lock,

of a lock ctuat'ing mechanism comprising a slideiba r, a n'act'uating leverfoi' the slide bar anzd a spring" interpesedbetween said 1 actuating lever and slide bar.

A-locli eperating device comprising a longitu linally" a s de, me is i 11 said slide tending to shiftfthe same' fin onedircetioman' actuating m'en' b fio rnioviiig the slide'in opposition to and means, and a yielding cushion interposed between said actuating member and slide.

14. A look operating device comprisirg, a casing, a slide mounted for longitudinal movement in the casing, a spring interposed between the slide and casing, and a lever for actuating said slide in opposition to said spring, said lever being yieldably connected to the slide.

15. A look operating device comprising a longitudinally movable slide, a longitudinally extending slot in said slide, a movable actuating member extending into said slot,

and a compression spring mounted in said slot and normally holding said actuating member at one end of the slot.

16. A look operatingdevice comprising a casing, a. longitudinally movable slide mounted in the casing, aspring interposed between the casing andslide, a'lever for actuating the slide in opposition to said spring, and a cushioning device interposed between the lever and slide comprising a second spring through which pressure is transmitted from the lever to the slide, said second spring being stronger than said first mentioned spring. g

17 A look operating device comprising a casing, a longitudinally movable slide in the casing, a spring interposed between the slide and casing, a yielding member associated with the slide, and a lever engageable with the yielding member and acting through said yielding member to shift the slide in opposition to the spring.

, 18. A look operating device comprising a casing, a longitudinally movable slide mounted in the casing, a compression spring interposed between the sllde and caslng, a

second compression spring movable with the slide, means for limitingcthe expansion of said second spring, and a lever acting through said second spring to move the slide in opposition to said first spring.

19. A lock operatingdevice comprising a casing, a longitudinally movable slide mounted in the casing, a spring interposed between the slide and casing, a lever pivoted to the casing, a link connected to the lever and extending alongside the slide, said link having a projection engageable with the slide to limit the longitudinal movement of Y the link in one direction with respect to the slide, a spring'interposed between the link and slide and acting to normally hold the projection on the link in engagement with the slide, and means for actuating the lever in a direction to actuate the link in a direction to actuate the slide through the interposed spring.

20. A panic bolt, having, in combination with a horizontally disposed push bar, attachment plates in which theends of said push bar are pivotally mounted, a latch en- I gaging member slidably mounted in one of said attachment plates in position to be actuated by a projecting end of said push bar when the latter is pressed inwardly and downwardly; and plural means of unequal strength for yieldingly holding said latchengaging member in non-actuating position.

21. In combination with a pair of face plate members adapted for attachment to a door adjacent opposite edges thereof, a latch-engaging member supported in that one of said face plate members adjacent the free or swinging edge of the door, a plurality of spring members for yieldingly holding'said latch-engaging member in non-actuating-position, said spring members being of varient strength whereby they act in succession rather than simultaneously, and a push bar pivota'lly supported by said face plate members in position for one of its ends to actuate said latch-engaging member when pushed toward the door.

22. The combination, with a supporting face plate, ofapush bar terminal pivotally I supported thereby in position to swing through a plane perpendicularto that of the face plate, a latch-actuating member slidably supported in operable relation thereto, and a pair of oppositely acting springs of unequal resiliency, through and regulated by which the lifting pressure of the push bar terminal on the latch-actuating member is resiliently communicated to the latch;

23. In combination with a latch member appurtenant to the free or swinging edge of 1 a door, an emergency actuating member therefor, consisting of a supporting face plate,a latch-actuating member capable of limited sliding movement thereon, an impact-cushioning element comprising a pair of oppositely acting springs of different re- .siliency, and an actuating lever pivoted to WILLIAM B. BOLLES. 

